Athletic Bilbao will host Mallorca in the La Liga on Friday. With 42 points from 22 games, the Basque team is presently fifth in the La Liga standings. Mallorca is in 15th place, just four points above the relegation zone.
Preview (Athletic Bilbao vs. Mallorca)
This season, Athletic is looking to win a trophy. The Basque team is now in the Copa del Rey semifinals, and on February 7, they will play the first leg of their matchup with Atletico Madrid in the round of sixteen. Ernesto Valverde’s team has also established themselves as a contender in the top four this season. They have amassed 42 points from 22 games in La Liga thanks to a record of 12 victories, 6 draws, and 4 losses. Athletic is currently two points behind fourth-place Barcelona in the standings, in fifth place. They have only managed to gain one point from their past two games. They drew with Cadiz on Sunday after losing at Valencia.
After amassing 26 points from their 11 games played in front of their fans and winning eight of them, the Lions will be happy to be returning home on Friday. However, Athletic has lost their last four league games against Mallorca. It included a goalless draw in the rematch earlier this season. Athletic has not finished in the top four in La Liga in ten years. Mallorca also earned a point in the equivalent matchup from the previous season, a goalless draw at San Mames. However, the Pirates’ 2023–24 campaign has been somewhat poor, as they are now in 15th place.
For Javier Aguirre’s team, winning has been a major challenge this season. Out of 22 league games, they have only earned the maximum number of points three times. Additionally, they have been the draw specialists in Spain’s top flight, splitting the points eleven times. In the Copa del Rey semifinals, Mallorca is also scheduled to play Real Sociedad in the first leg of their semi-final on February 6.
Team News
For Friday’s match, Athletic is once more anticipated to be without Igo Ruiz de Galarreta and Alex Berenguer. The Basque team has no new injury concerns. The team that played against Cadiz the last time out will be different from this one. Gorka Guruzeta, Nico Williams, and Iihan Sancet will all be back on the pitch. Ander Herrera should continue to start in midfield while Unai Gomez, Malcom Adu, and Aier Villalibre are set to be dropped to the bench.
Regarding Mallorca, Samu Costa is questionable due to an injury that kept him out of the game throughout the first half against Real Betis the previous time around, while Pablo Maffeo is out due to a knee ailment. In the match against Manuel Pellegrini’s team, Omar Mascarell came in for Costa off the bench, and the number five is now probably going to earn a spot in the starting lineup. Vedat Muriqi, who has been on the sidelines for his team’s past three games due to a calf injury, may also be able to find a spot in the starting lineup.
Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Mallorca
For more football previews, click here
